What does ‘white lie’ mean?
To “white lie” means to a small, harmless untruth told to be kind. The distinction between 'white' (harmless) and 'black' (malicious) lies is old in English; Brewer's notes the traditional colour symbolism.
Origin
- The distinction between 'white' (harmless) and 'black' (malicious) lies is old in English; Brewer's notes the traditional colour symbolism.
How to use it
- Common everyday moral shorthand.
- Example: It was just a white lie to spare his feelings.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.